Caveman Curling

English language edition of Kairn

New copies of this item are not currently available, but
ding & dent or used copies are available.
You can still add a new copy of this item to your cart and we will ship it to you as soon as it becomes available![more info]

Product Description

In Caveman Curling, each team attempts to “throw” or
flick their rocks, one at a time, down the frozen lake. Special
objects such as hammers, which allow the rocks to be moved
after the throw, and totems, which protect a thrown rock
from being moved, add an extra layer of strategy to the
game. Play consists of rounds, at the end of which each team
or player scores a point for each of their rocks closer to the
center of the cave than any of their opponent’s rocks. The
first team or player to score six points wins!

Product Reviews

Caveman Curling is a caveman-themed spin on curling, the sport where they throw rocks
on ice, and run ahead sweeping like crazy with brooms. It's a dexterity game that
employs Crokinole style flicking of disks, but with a curling type rink for all the
action to happen, and adds in some great artwork and a few twists. This game was
previously released under the name Kairn, and limited copies of a new edition called
Caveman Curling first appeared at Essen 2011, and have now received a wider release
with this great edition from Gryphon Games.

Players take turns flicking their disks along the icy lake trying to get the closest
to the "fire" at the end of the board. The playing board is made out of a special
material that contains just the right amount of traction to enable remarkably
accurate shots, and where you need to judge the distance carefully. After each shot,
you can use a "special item" on the rock you've just flicked. A hammer can adjust its
distance (in the absence of brooms), and a totem can protect it so that you can
re-throw it later in the round if the totem happens to come off. Point scoring at the
game end is just like in curling or bocce - you score one point for each of your
disks closest to the center than the nearest of your opponent.

It compares very favourably with Crokinole, and although it's still sheer skill, it
has a slightly lighter feel in view of the theme, components, and the ability to use
special items. Judging the distance is much more important here than it is in
Crokinole, so the end result is that both games require a different approach, with
Caveman Curling more likely to work in a family setting. Portability is also a huge
plus, because while you can't lug your Crokinole board around easily, that's easily
accomplished with the small box that contains Caveman Curling. A very fun game,
highly recommended, and different enough from Crokinole to make it a unique challenge
of its own.